Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Name These States From Three Clues?

Michael Moraitis

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Whether you love "Sweet Home Alabama" or you have an "Empire State of Mind," the United States is always a place to sing about. A vast land made up of 50 states, each individual state has something that helps make it memorable. From food to major landmarks, can you name these states from three clues?

The history of the United States as a country began in 1776 with the start of the American Revolutionary War. Eleven years later would bring about the formation of the first few states through the ratification of the Constitution. What started as the original thirteen colonies would grow to become 50 states in the world's third largest country. How well do you know the states?

Each state has its own characteristics that make it unique. Their nicknames like "The Garden State" and "The Lone Star State" help make them easily recognizable. Landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Space Needle, and Golden Gate Bridge help give them culture while the birthplace of presidents like George Washington, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama make them memorable. From all the culture and customs lying within each state, can you identify them from just three clues? Can you differentiate between "The First State" and the last state, which is also called "The Aloha State?" There's only one way to find out! Take this quiz and let's find out what "state" of mind you're in!

The Big Apple, Statue of Liberty, Broadway.

New Jersey

New York

Massachusetts

California

Times Square was formerly named Longacre Square. It is also known as "The Crossroads of the World."

Neighbor to Canada, Space Needle, Starbucks.

California

Oregon

Washington

Nevada

Starbucks got its start in Pike Place Market, located in Seattle, Washington. When the Space Needle was completed, in 1962, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River.

Great Salt Lake, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Bryce Canyon National Park.

Utah

Oregon

Montana

Wyoming

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a 360-piece choir that is accompanied by an organ consisting of 11,623 pieces. The choir has been performing for over a century.

Oranges, Disney World, the Everglades.

Louisiana

Mississippi

California

Florida

Also known as the "Sunshine State," Florida is the largest producer of citrus fruit in the United States. Roughly 90 percent of the citrus produced in Florida goes into juice-making.

The Aloha State, birthplace of Barack Obama, Pearl Harbor.

Illinois

New Mexico

Alaska

Hawaii

The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, led to the United States' entrance into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the day "a date which will live in infamy."

The Redwood Forest, Napa Valley, Golden Gate Bridge.

Oregon

Nevada

California

New Mexico

California was the first state to become a trillion-dollar economy. If California were a country, it would have the sixth-largest economy in the world, even bigger than France's.

The Garden State, Six Flags Great Adventure, MetLife Stadium.

New Jersey

New York

Illinois

Massachusetts

Met Life Stadium, which is home to the New York Jets and Giants, is actually located in New Jersey. The state is also known as the "Diner Capital of the World."

Harvard, Martha's Vineyard, Salem witch trials.

Delaware

Connecticut

Vermont

Massachusetts

The Salem witch trials, between 1692 and 1693, resulted in the execution of 20 people. Five more died while in prison.

Cheese, Badger State, Packers.

Maine

Wisconsin

South Dakota

North Dakota

The cheesehead hat, which is famously seen at Green Bay Packers games, actually originated at a Milwaukee Brewers game. The team's former outfielder, Rick Manning, made the hat popular after a photo was taken of him wearing it.

The Windy City, Barack Obama's former hometown, Sears Tower.

Minnesota

Illinois

Hawaii

Michigan

Although it is commonly known as the Sears Tower, the skyscraper in Chicago was officially named Willis Tower in 2009. Upon being built in 1973, the skyscraper was the tallest in the world for 25 years.

Motor City, Lake Huron, Ford Motor Company headquarters.

Georgia

Illinois

Michigan

Indianapolis

Along with Michigan, Lake Huron is also shared with the Canadian province of Ontario. It got its name from French explorers, who named it after the people living there at the time, the Huron people.

Sin City, Hoover Dam, Area 51.

Louisiana

New Mexico

Arizona

Nevada

Despite being nicknamed the "Silver State," Nevada is actually the largest producer of gold in the U.S. It is fourth in gold production worldwide.

Cactuses, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam.

Arizona

New Mexico

Nevada

California

The Hoover Dam actually sits on the border of Arizona and Nevada. Cutting down slow-growing saguaro cacti in Arizona could lead to prison time.

Pocono Mountains, Liberty Bell, Battle of Gettysburg.

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Pennsylvania

Maryland

The Battle of Gettysburg took place in Pennsylvania. It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

Rocky Mountains, Mile-High City, Centennial State.

Colorado

Michigan

New Mexico

Montana

Colorado is know as the "Centennial State" because it was founded 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Rockies stretch more than 3,000 miles and run from Alaska (if you include the Brooks Range) to New Mexico.

The Alamo, The Lone Star State, JFK assassination.

Alabama

Massachusetts

Texas

Georgia

President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dealey Plaza in Texas in 1963. He was succeeded by his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, who was born in Texas.

Bayou State, Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras.

Kansas

Missouri

Louisiana

Mississippi

Bourbon Street sits in the French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. It is home to raucous Mardi Gras parties every year.

Crab cakes, Fort McHenry, Pimlico Race Course.

Vermont

Virginia

Maine

Maryland

Pimlico Race Course is home to the Preakness Stakes, one of the three major races in horse racing. The race is part of what is known as the sport's "Triple Crown."

Potatoes, The Smurf Turf, Silver City.

Minnesota

Idaho

Ohio

Nebraska

Idaho grows one-third of the nation's potatoes. Boise State University is home to the only blue football field in the world, nicknamed "The Smurf Turf."

Land of 10,000 Lakes, Mall of America, North Star State.

Minnesota

Wyoming

Montana

Wisconsin

Minnesota's Mall of America stretches the length of 78 football fields. It is a total of 9.5 million square feet and even has roller coasters.

The Last Frontier, Sarah Palin, Seward's Folly.

Alaska

Wisconsin

Hawaii

North Dakota

Alaska became property of the United States in 1867; however it wasn't made a state until 1959. The purchase of Alaska was known as "Seward's Folly."

Yale University, the Constitution State, Mystic Seaport.

Connecticut

Vermont

Virginia

New Hampshire

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is the third-oldest higher learning institution in the United States. It is one of the nine Colonial Colleges that were founded before the American Revolution.

Vanderbilt University, Music City, Grand Ole Opry.

Oklahoma

Tennessee

Mississippi

South Carolina

Broadcasting every weekend since 1925, the Grand Ole Opry is the world's longest-running live radio program in the world. The program is broadcast every weekend.

The Show Me State, Anheuser-Busch headquarters, Gateway Arch.

North Dakota

Kansas

Wisconsin

Missouri

The Gateway Arch is the tallest arch in the world. It was built as a monument to celebrate westward expansion by the United States.

Peaches, Stone Mountain Park, The Varsity.

Georgia

Missouri

Alabama

South Carolina

Although known for its peaches, Georgia is actually third in peach production in the U.S. Georgia is also home to the world's largest drive-in restaurant, The Varsity.

Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful, Equality State.

Ohio

Wisconsin

Wyoming

North Carolina

Although Yellowstone National Park's address is listed in Wyoming, the park runs through three states. The other two states are Montana and Idaho. However the vast majority of the park is in Wyoming.

Cotton State, Auburn University, Crimson Tide.

Alabama

Mississippi

Arkansas

Georgia

Alabama was home to such famous athletes as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Joe Louis. It is also the only state to have an alcoholic beverage as its official drink.

Hometown of LeBron James, Buckeyes, Birthplace of Aviation.

North Carolina

Idaho

South Carolina

Ohio

In 2003, Congress voted to name Ohio, not North Carolina, as the Birthplace of Aviation. Dayton, Ohio, was the home of the Wright brothers.

Duke University, Chapel Hill, Tar Heels.

Mississippi

South Carolina

North Carolina

West Virginia

Chapel Hill is a city in North Carolina that is home to the University of North Carolina. It is the 15th-largest city in the state.

Old Dominion, Jamestown, birthplace of George Washington.

Virginia

West Virginia

Maryland

Vermont

Virginia is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement on the American continent.

The first Walmart was opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. The superchain now has 11,000 stores worldwide.

The Magnolia State, Old Man River, birthplace of Teddy Bears.

Louisiana

West Virginia

South Carolina

Mississippi

The name "Teddy Bear" comes from a famous hunting trip in which president Theodore Roosevelt refused to kill a trapped bear in Mississippi.

Fort Sumter, The Palmetto State, Rainbow Row.

Missouri

North Carolina

South Carolina

Nebraska

South Carolina is the nation's leading peach producer and shipper east of the Mississippi River.

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